Fulfilling a conditional vow in advance

Question

Question: A person vowed: “If such-and-such a matter is accomplished, I will keep three fasts.” He fulfilled the vow before the matter was accomplished, and afterwards the matter was also achieved. Should he fulfil the vow again, or are the earlier fasts sufficient? And is the issue of an oath (yamin) exactly the same in this way, or is there a difference?

Answer

In the case asked about, those fasts are not sufficient, because he made the fasts conditional upon the matter being accomplished, and as long as the matter was not accomplished their obligation did not even arise; therefore they became nafl (voluntary). Now it is necessary to keep the fasts anew in accordance with the condition.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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